High density metering system

ABSTRACT

A method of monitoring the electrical power in multiple branch circuits of an AC electrical power distribution system comprises monitoring at least one voltage common to said multiple branch circuits using a main meter unit, monitoring currents of the multiple branch circuits using multiple current cards that receive a plurality of current inputs from current transducers in the multiple branch circuits, sampling the monitored voltage in the main meter unit and the monitored currents in the current cards multiple times in each cycle of the AC power signal, determining the magnitudes and angles of spectral components of the sampled current in the current cards, sending data representing the magnitudes and angles of at least selected spectral components from the current cards to the main meter unit, and storing the voltage samples and the magnitudes and angles of at least the selected spectral components in the main meter unit.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/145,856, filed Jun. 25, 2008, which is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the monitoring of an electrical powerdistribution system, and, in particular, to monitoring an electricalpower distribution system and its multiple branch circuits where poweris supplied from a main bus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In an electrical power distribution system with multiple branchcircuits, it is desirable to monitor each branch circuit for a multitudeof reasons including load management, power quality analysis, and tenantmetering. Historically, each branch circuit had to be monitored by anindividual meter which created redundancy in multiple meters, wires,memory, processors, communication ports, etc. High Density Metering(HDM) systems were developed to monitor power distribution systems withmultiple branch circuits in a single meter and eliminate much of theredundancy. As a result, HDMs provide significant savings in material,space, and installation costs.

In designing an HDM system, the goal is to design a meter thatefficiently monitors multiple branch circuits and is accurate,versatile, convenient and economical. HDMs typically have a singlevoltage input that is common to the power distribution system and acurrent input from each phase of each branch circuit being monitored. AnHDM monitors the voltage and current inputs over a period of time andcalculates real-time readings, demand readings, energy readings, andpower analysis values. Even though all HDMs monitor the same inputs,there is a great deal of variety in the way in which HDM systems acquiredata, transmit data internally, and process the data.

To design a versatile HDM, it is important to be able to acquire datafrom a variety of branch circuit configurations. HDMs typically onlymonitor branch circuits that are all the same configuration. This isproblematic when a single distribution panel supplies power to a varietyof single and/or poly-phase loads.

Additional limitations surrounding HDMs stem from an HDM's ability totransfer and process the acquired data. An HDM is limited in the numberof branch circuits that can be monitored by its ability to transferand/or process data. Deciding what internal communication system orprocessors to use in order to monitor a maximum number of circuits mustbe carefully balanced with the cost of implementing such components. Thecost of implementation will not only include the cost of thecommunication system and processor, but other design considerations thatwill be affected, such as memory requirements, wiring, and the overallsize of the HDM.

To achieve the goals of designing an HDM, it is important to have anefficient method of acquiring, transmitting, and processing data withinan HDM. The present invention is directed to satisfying this and otherneeds.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one embodiment, a method of monitoring the electrical powerin multiple branch circuits of an AC electrical power distributionsystem comprises monitoring at least one voltage common to said multiplebranch circuits using a main meter unit, monitoring currents of themultiple branch circuits using multiple current cards that receive aplurality of current inputs from current transducers in the multiplebranch circuits, sampling the monitored voltage in the main meter unitand the monitored currents in the current cards multiple times in eachcycle of the AC power signal, determining the magnitudes and angles ofspectral components of the sampled current in the current cards, sendingdata representing the magnitudes and angles of at least selectedspectral components from the current cards to the main meter unit, andstoring the voltage samples and the magnitudes and angles of at leastthe selected spectral components in the main meter unit. In oneimplementation, only the spectral components that have magnitudesexceeding a predetermined value are sent to the main meter unit.

The main meter unit preferably determines the magnitudes and angles ofspectral components of the sampled voltage and stores data representingsaid magnitudes and angles of the voltage spectral components in themain meter unit.

Additionally, the main meter unit preferably stores data characterizingsystem voltage type, current transducers, and branch circuitconfigurations of the power distribution system, so that the main meterunit can calculate the power consumed in each branch circuit using thestored characterizing data along with the stored voltage and currentspectral components.

The foregoing and additional aspects of the present invention will beapparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the detaileddescription of various embodiments, which is made with reference to thedrawings, a brief description of which is provided next.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other advantages of the invention will become apparentupon reading the following detailed description and upon reference tothe drawings.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a power distribution systembeing monitored by a HDM;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of the HDM in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an MMU included in the HDM of FIGS. 1 and2;

FIG. 4 is flow chart of the general operation of the MMU of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a CC included in the HDM of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 6 is flow chart of the general operation of the CC of FIG. 5;

FIGS. 7 a and 7 b are a graphical example of the operation of the CC ofFIG. 5 over one cycle of a power line signal

FIG. 8 is a flow chart of the steps to define branch circuit parametersin the MMU of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a portion of the HDM connected to a powerdistribution system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

Although the invention will be described in connection with certainpreferred embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is notlimited to those particular embodiments. On the contrary, the inventionis intended to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalentarrangements as may be included within the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined by the appended claims.

FIG. 1 is a simplified configuration of an electrical power distributionsystem fed from a main bus 1 with multiple branch circuits 1 a, 1 b, 1 cand monitored by a High Density Meter (HDM) 2. The HDM 2 is a powermeter that meters the main bus 1 and all branch circuits and iscompliant with ANSI C12.16. 1.0, ANSI C12.20. 0.5, and IEC62053-21 andIEC62053-23 Class 1. The HDM 2 monitors (1) the instantaneous voltagecommon to the power distribution system via line 3 and (2) theinstantaneous current of the main bus 1 via line 5 and currenttransformer (CT) 5 a. The HDM 2 also monitors the instantaneous currentfor each individual branch circuit via lines 4 a, 4 b, 4 c and CTs 6 a,6 b, 6 c. The HDM 2 is able to monitor a combination of branch circuitconfigurations including single phase circuits or poly-phase circuitssuch as three-wire and four-wire circuits.

Turning next to FIG. 2, the HDM 2 includes a Main Meter Unit (MMU) 20,eight option cards 21 labeled OC1-OC8, a backplane 22, a user interface23, and “listener” displays 24. The MMU 20 and the option cards 21 arehoused in a single unit or assembly and connected along a commonbackplane 22. The user interface 23 and listener displays 24 are daisychained together and connected to the MMU 20 via a user interface port25 using an RS-485 cable. The MMU 20 is a standalone meter that monitorsthe voltage and current of the main bus 1 and has the same basicfunctionality of a PowerLogic® PM800 series power meter or equivalentmeter. The MMU 20 is also able to meter multiple branch circuits bystoring branch circuit parameters and acquiring time-coincident spectralcomponent data for each branch circuit, as explained in greater detailbelow. The option cards 21 are interchangeable modular components thatinclude such options as Current Cards (CCs) 26, advanced communicationcards 27, I/O cards 28, logging cards, etc. The CCs 26 work inconjunction with the MMU 20 to monitor the current in the multiplebranch circuits. The CCs 26 are dedicated to acquiring current data forthe branch circuits and manipulating that data. FIG. 2 shows oneembodiment of an HDM 2 where the option cards 21 include five CCs 26, anadvanced communication card 27, and two I/O cards 28.

Referring to FIG. 3, the MMU 20 includes voltage inputs 45, currentinputs 46, a voltage divide network 47, a sample and hold circuit 48, anAnalog-to-Digital (A-to-D) converter 49, a microprocessor 50, memory 51,a communication port 31, a user interface port 25, and a power supply52.

The flow chart in FIG. 4 shows how the MMU 20 operates as part of theHDM 2. In step 71, the MMU 20 determines the frequency of the powerdistribution system. To determine the frequency, the MMU 20microprocessor 50 employs a zero mean crossing technique based on thevoltage of the power distribution system as monitored by the voltageinputs 45. In step 72, the MMU 20 generates a sampling strobe controlsignal that contains 128 pulses per cycle of the voltage fundamental,based on the frequency, to take time-coincident samples of (1) thevoltage input common to the power distribution system and (2) currentinputs for the main and all branch circuits. To acquire time-coincidentdata samples, the control signal is distributed and received by theMMU's sample and hold circuit 48 in step 73. The control signal is alsodistributed to the option cards 21 via the backplane 22.

In step 74, the MMU 20 samples the MMU's voltage and current inputs ofthe main bus 1 and stores the values in the MMU's memory 51. Each risingedge of a control signal pulse initiates the sampling of the analogvoltage inputs 45 and current inputs 46 in the MMU's 20 sample and holdcircuit 48. These values are passed through an A-to-D converter 49before they are sent to the microprocessor 50.

Referring again to FIG. 3, the MMU voltage inputs 45 are derived fromthe main bus 1. The MMU voltage inputs 45 require 0-600 Vacline-to-neutral. For system voltages greater than this range, voltagetransducers such as potential transformers can be used to bring thevoltages into an acceptable voltage input range. The voltage inputs 45are connected to a voltage divide network 47, formed with suitableresistors, to attenuate or scale down the voltage to an acceptable levelfor the integrated circuit components 54 of the MMU 20.

The MMU current inputs 46 are derived from the currents of the main bus1. The currents in the main bus 1 conductors are measured by currenttransducers such as current transformers. The current transducers aresized according to the total rating of the distribution system and themaximum rating of the MMU's current inputs 46.

In step 75 of FIG. 4, the MMU 20 determines whether 128 samples of eachvoltage and current analog input has been stored. If not, the MMU 20receives additional control signal pulses and continues to sample allanalog inputs. When 128 samples of each voltage and current analog input(one cycle's worth of samples) has accumulated, the MMU's microprocessor50 performs a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) on the sampled data over theprevious cycle to compute the magnitudes and angles of the spectral(harmonic) components, in step 76. The computed spectral componentvalues are then stored in the MMU's memory 51 in step 77.

Next, in steps 78 and 79, the MMU 20 obtains data from the option cards21 for the previous cycle, the last 128 samples, and stores the data inmemory 51, as will be explained in greater detail below.

The MMU 20 aggregates all the stored time-coincident voltage and currentspectral component magnitude and angle values for the main bus 1, andoption card 21 data, with stored circuit configurations in step 80. TheMMU 20 performs power and waveform calculations for the main circuit andall branch circuits. The calculations performed by the MMU 20 calculateeach circuit's real-time readings, demand readings, energy readings, andpower analysis values. Table 1 below is a list of the readings availablefor each circuit. The MMU 20 stores the results of all calculations foreach circuit in step 81.

TABLE 1 Real-Time Readings Energy Readings Current (per phase, N, G,3-Phase) Accumulated Energy, Real Voltage (L-L, L-N, N-G, 3-Phase)Accumulated Energy, Reactive Real power (per phase, 3-Phase) AccumulatedEnergy, Apparent Reactive Power (per phase, 3-Phase) BidirectionalReadings Apparent Power (per phase, 3-Phase) Reactive Energy by QuadrantPower Factor (per phase, 3-Phase) Incremental Energy FrequencyConditional Energy Temperature (internal ambient) THD (current andvoltage) K-Factor (per phase) Demand Readings Power Analysis ValuesDemand current (per phase present, Crest Factor (per phase) 3-Phaseaverage) Displacement Power Factor Demand Voltage (per phase present,(per phase, 3-Phase) 3-Phase average) Fundamental Voltages Average PowerFactor (3-Phase total) (per phase) Demand Real power (per phaseFundamental Currents present, peak) (per phase) Demand Reactive Power(per phase Fundamental Real power present, peak) (per phase) DemandApparent power (per phase Fundamental Reactive Power present, peak) (perphase) Coincident Readings Harmonic Power Predicted Power DemandUnbalance (current and voltage) Phase rotation Harmonic Magnitudes andAngles Sequence Components

Referring to FIG. 5, each CC 26 comprises eight current inputs 95, acurrent sample and hold 96, an A-to-D converter 97, a microprocessor 98,and memory 99.

Each individual CC 26 operates as shown in the flowchart in FIG. 6 toacquire, manipulate, and transmit current data. In step 115, the CC 26receives a control signal pulse generated by the MMU 20 and transmittedto the CC's sample and hold circuit 96 via the backplane 22. In step116, the rising edge of a control signal pulse initiates time-coincidentcurrent data samples from the current inputs 95 in the sample and holdcircuit 96. The A-to-D converter 97 converts the sampled analog inputsto digital signals that are sent to the CC's microprocessor 98.

An individual CC 26 has eight current inputs 95, labeled I1-I8, each ofwhich receives the output of a current transducer. A current transducermeasures the current of a branch power conductor to which it is coupled.Typically a current transducer comprises a current transformer. The CC26 processes each input separately, and each input corresponds to aspecific register in the MMU 20 memory 51.

Step 117 determines when all the samples for one cycle have beenaccumulated. In step 118, the CC's microprocessor 98 performs an FFT onthe sampled data from the latest complete cycle, to compute themagnitude and angles of the spectral (harmonic) components of thesampled currents. Since the MMU 20 is accumulating 128 samples percycle, per the Nyquist theorem, the CC 26 calculates a total of 64spectral components for each input. By calculating the spectralcomponents of the branch circuit currents in the CCs 26, considerableprocessor burden is relieved from the MMU's microprocessor 50.

The magnitude of each spectral component is compared with a thresholdvalue in step 119. A typical threshold value to compare each spectralcomponent to is five percent of the magnitude of the fundamental. Instep 120, the spectral components that are below the threshold valuehave magnitudes set to zero, thus creating a dead-band that extends fromzero up to the threshold value.

Data representing the spectral components whose magnitudes are greaterthan zero are transferred to the MMU 20 in step 121, and stored in theMMU's memory 51. Data representing the magnitudes and angles of thespectral components can be in either rectangular or polar form. With themajority of the spectral content for a power signal in the lowerharmonics, creating a dead-band significantly reduces the amount of datathat needs to be processed by the MMU 20, thus relieving processorburden in the MMU 20, because the MMU 20 does not have to calculate thezero values. By only transmitting data representing the spectralcomponents whose magnitudes are greater than zero, bandwidth along thebackplane is saved when transferring data to the MMU 20. As explainedpreviously, the MMU 20 aggregates all the stored time-coincident voltagespectral component and current spectral component values with storedcircuit configurations.

FIGS. 7 a and 7 b depict an example of the operation of a single inputof a CC 26 for one cycle. The waveform being sampled is depicted in FIG.7 a. In this example, the HDM 2 is only sampling at 64 points per cycle,and therefore, 32 spectral components are calculated. The FFT isperformed by the CC processor 98, and the magnitude of each harmonic iscalculated and graphed as a percentage of the magnitude of thefundamental, as depicted in FIG. 7 b. The magnitude of each spectralcomponent is then compared to the threshold value of five percent of thefundamental, represented by the horizontal line T in FIG. 7 b. Thespectral component values below the threshold value T are set to zero.In the example in FIG. 7 b, because only the spectral components withmagnitudes greater than zero are transmitted to the MMU 20, only sixspectral component values are transmitted to the MMU 20.

Returning to FIG. 2, the user interface 23 containing a display andkeypad is connected to the MMU 20 via the user interface port 25 usingan RS485 cable. The MMU 20 controls the user interface 23 which, in itsmost basic form, allows a user to monitor a circuit, program the HDM 2,and test the revenue accuracy of an individual circuit. More options arepossible that allow a user to set additional options such as alarms,passwords, etc. In addition to the user interface 23, the HDM 2 supportsmultiple listener displays 24 by daisy chaining the listener displays 24to the user interface 23 using RS485 cables. A single listener display24 is set to a specific branch circuit and displays all programmedparameters and calculated values for the selected branch circuit.Listener displays 24 are ideal in a tenant metering application of anHDM 2 to allow a tenant to remotely monitor the branch circuit supplyingpower to his or her location while restricting access to the HDM 2 unit.

To initially program the HDM 2 via the user interface 23, the user setsthe parameters for the main bus 1 being monitored by the MMU 20, defineseach branch circuit, and sets the date and time. All parameters enteredinto the user interface 23 are stored in the MMU memory 51.

To set the parameters of the main bus 1 being monitored by the MMU 20,the user selects the system configuration of the main bus 1 and definesthe voltage inputs 45 and current inputs 46. First, the user selects thesystem configuration for the main bus 1 by selecting from availableconfigurations such as three-phase, four-wire wye; three-phase,four-wire delta; etc. Next, the user defines each of the voltage inputs45 for the selected configuration by assigning each input to a phase inthe distribution system and setting the ratio of any voltagetransducers. If there are no voltage transducers, the ratio is set to1:1. Finally, the user defines each of the current inputs 46. Eachcurrent input 46 must be assigned to the phase it is monitoring on themain bus 1 and the current transducer measuring the current in thatphase. The current transducer is further defined by inputting thecurrent transducer's characterization information. When using a CT asthe current transducer, the characterization information typicallyincludes at least the current transformer turns ratios.

The flowchart in FIG. 8 depicts how the user interface 23 is operated todefine each branch circuit by setting and storing the branch circuitparameters in the MMU memory 51. When a user enters the routine fordefining a branch circuit in step 160, the user first names the circuitin step 161. Next, in step 162, the user selects the branch circuitconfiguration. The user chooses from single-phase single-wire,single-phase three-wire, three-phase three-wire, etc. As a result, ifall eight option cards 21 are CCs 26, the HDM 2 is able to monitoreither 64 single-phase single-wire circuits, 32 single phase three-wirecircuits, 16 three-phase, three or four-wire branch circuits, or acombination of branch circuit configurations.

In steps 163-166, the user defines the transducers used to monitor theselected branch circuit configuration. The transducers for a givenconfiguration are defined one at a time until all transducers aredefined. To define a transducer, the user selects the phase beingmonitored in step 163 by selecting the MMU voltage input 45 that relatesto the same phase in the main bus 1. Next, the user identifies the inputthe transducer is connected to in steps 164 and 165 by selecting theoption card 21 position, labeled OC1-OC8, and the corresponding CCcurrent input 95, labeled I1-I8. Finally, in step 166, the user definesthe characteristic information for the corresponding current transducer.After the transducer characteristic information has been inputted, theHDM 2 checks to see if all the transducers are defined for the selectedbranch circuit configuration in step 167. If the branch circuit is notcompletely defined, the user then sets the next transducer by repeatingthe above process beginning at step 163. When the entire branch has beendefined, the user then defines another branch circuit in step 160 orreturns to the setup menu.

The user sets the date and time to complete the programming of the HDM2. The date and time are updated by the real time clock 53 that ismaintained as part of the microprocessor 50 in the MMU 20. The clock 53is utilized primarily for time-of-use metering and data logging.

FIG. 9 shows an example of a portion of an HDM 2 connected to a powerdistribution system with multiple branch circuits. The portion of theHDM 2 shown contains the MMU 20 and a single CC 26 connected along thebackplane 22. The power distribution system contains a main bus 1 withconductors L1, L2, L3, N and three branch circuits, each of whichcontains a different type of load. The MMU 20 is electrically coupled tothe main bus 1 to monitor the voltage via lines 180-183 and to receivepower for the power supply 52 via lines 184 and 185. The MMU 20 is alsocoupled to the main bus 1 via lines 186-189 and current transducers190-193 to monitor the current. The CC current inputs 95, labeled I1-I8,are each coupled to a different conductor of a branch circuit via lines194-201 and current transducers 202-209 to monitor the current in threebranch circuits.

Once the HDM 2 is programmed and in operation, the user operates theuser interface 23 to monitor individual circuits. The user selects fromthe main bus 1 or any of the defined branch circuits. Upon selecting thedesired circuit, the user views all programmed circuit configurationinformation as well as the circuit's real-time readings, demandreadings, energy readings, and power analysis values.

The user also operates the user interface 23 to test an individualcircuit for revenue accuracy. Upon selecting a desired circuit, the MMU20 provides a test point 30, as seen in FIG. 2, in the form of aninfrared LED that is optically read to verify the HDM's 2 accuracy forthe selected circuit.

The power supply 52 is part of the MMU 20 and supplies power to allother components of the HDM 2. In FIG. 2, the power supply 52 accepts analternating current (AC) or a direct current (DC) input voltage rangingfrom 100-230 volts from a power source 55. The power supply 52 suppliespower directly to all the integrated circuit components 54 of the MMU20. The power supply is also able to supply power to the user interface23 and listener displays 24 via the user interface port 25 and to optioncards 21 via the backplane 22. Standard voltages distributed along thebackplane 22 to operate all electrical components include 12, 5, and 3.3volts DC.

The MMU 20 uses serial communication via a backplane 22 to communicatewith the option cards 21. The use of a backplane 22 allows for easymodular connections of all option cards 21. The backplane 22 has threeaddress lines to identify each option card 21, a “ready” for an optionscard 21 to indicate it is ready to transmit, an interrupt line, and acontrol signal line. The backplane 22 can be implemented using serialcommunication protocols such as SPI, I²C, Uart, or an equivalent.

When the HDM 2 is put in service, the MMU 20 and CCs 26 work to monitora distribution system as described above. The MMU 20 polls each optioncard 21 once every cycle. When polled by the MMU 20, an individual CC 26transmits data representing the spectral component values havingmagnitudes above the threshold value to the MMU 20 via the backplane 22,and the MMU 20 stores the values in its memory 51. The MMU 20 aggregatesthe data for each branch circuit using the branch circuit parameters asdefined by the user, the stored spectral component values for the branchcircuit's inputs, and the stored voltage spectral current values of themain bus that are common to all branch circuits. It is also possible toperform an inverse FFT on the data representing the magnitudes andangles of the current spectral components and aggregate the results withthe original stored analog samples from the MMU 20 and the data for eachbranch circuit. The MMU 20 calculates and logs all the values listed inTable 1 above. An additional data logging module is available as anoption card 21 to provide additional memory for increased data logging.

Returning to FIG. 2, the MMU 20 has a single RS-485 communication port31. The communication port 31 uses an industry standard Modbus protocolwhich allows the HDM 2 to interface with building management softwarefor remote display or additional processing. Examples of buildingmanagement software include Powerlogic® Tenant Metering CommercialEdition software, Powerlogic® System Manager™ software, or Powerlogic®ION Enterprise® software. Additional communication ports are availablethrough use of an advanced communication card 27. A standard advancedcommunication card 27, as depicted in FIG. 2, contains an Ethernet port32 and an additional RS-485 port 33. Additional advanced communicationcards 27 are available with a variety of communication ports such asRS-232, modem, Bluetooth, Zigbee wireless, etc.

As described above, a cost effective approach to an HDM 2 is presentedthat eliminates redundant hardware and achieves a low cost per meteringpoint. The HDM 2 monitors the voltage common to the power distributionsystem in a MMU 20 that stores data characterizing the powerdistribution system and all transducers. The HDM 2 monitors the currentsin the branch circuits in CC 26. All monitored voltages and currents aresampled as a result of a control signal produced in the MMU 20. The CC26 determines the spectral components and compares the magnitudes with athreshold value. Only the spectral component values above the thresholdvalue are transmitted to the MMU 20, where they are stored with thetime-coincident voltage spectral components. By allocating theprocessing of the branch circuit current spectral components to the CCs26, there is a reduction in the processor burden in the MMU 20.Backplane bandwidth and processor burden are reduced by comparing thespectral components to a threshold value in the CC 26 and onlytransmitting the data representing the spectral components havingmagnitudes above the threshold value.

While particular embodiments and applications of the present inventionhave been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that theinvention is not limited to the precise construction and compositionsdisclosed herein and that various modifications, changes, and variationsmay be apparent from the foregoing descriptions without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

1. A meter for monitoring the electrical power in multiple branchcircuits of an AC electrical power distribution system, comprising amain meter unit monitoring at least one voltage common to said multiplebranch circuits and sampling the monitored voltage multiple times ineach cycle of the AC power signal, and multiple current cards receivinga plurality of current inputs from current transducers in the multiplebranch circuits, monitoring currents of the multiple branch circuits,sampling the monitored currents multiple times in each cycle of the ACpower signal, determining the magnitudes and angles of spectralcomponents of the sampled current, and sending data representing saidmagnitudes and angles of at least selected spectral components from thecurrent cards to the main meter unit, said main meter unit storing thevoltage samples and the data representing the magnitudes and angles ofat least the selected spectral components.
 2. The meter of claim 1 inwhich said main meter unit determines the magnitudes and angles ofspectral components of the sampled voltage, and stores data representingsaid magnitudes and angles of the voltage spectral components.
 3. Themeter of claim 2 in which said main meter unit stores datacharacterizing system voltage type, current transducers, and branchcircuit configurations of the power distribution system, and calculatesthe power consumed in each branch circuit using said storedcharacterizing data along with the stored data representing saidmagnitudes and angles of the voltage and current spectral components. 4.The meter of claim 1 wherein said current cards determine spectralcomponent magnitudes and angles by performing a Fast Fourier Transformof the sampled current.
 5. The meter of claim 1 in which said main meterunit compares the spectral component magnitudes to a predetermined valuerelated to the fundamental frequency, and determines which spectralcomponent magnitudes are greater than said predetermined value.
 6. Themeter of claim 5 in which said current cards send only data representingthe magnitudes and angles of the current spectral components withmagnitudes that are in excess of the predetermined value, to the mainmeter unit.
 7. The meter of claim 1 which said current cards monitorcurrents from multiple transducers in the same branch circuit.
 8. Themeter of claim 1 in which said main meter unit generates a controlsignal that represents the times at which the monitored voltage andcurrents are to be sampled, transmits said control signal to saidcurrent cards, and samples said monitored voltage and currents inresponse to said control signal to produce time coincident samples. 9.The meter of claim 1 wherein a single current card samples currents frommultiple branch circuits.
 10. The meter of claim 9 wherein said multiplebranch circuits whose currents are sampled by said single current cardare of different circuit configurations.
 11. The meter of claim 1 whichincludes a common backplane coupling the main metering unit and themultiple current cards, and a single chassis containing the mainmetering unit, the multiple current cards, and the common backplane. 12.The meter of claim 11 wherein said current cards send the data to themain meter unit via the common backplane.
 13. The meter of claim 11 inwhich said main meter unit generates a control signal that representsthe times at which the monitored voltage and currents are to be sampled,and transmits said control signal to the multiple current cards via thecommon backplane.
 14. The meter of claim 1 in which the sampling of saidmonitored voltage and currents produces time-coincident samples.
 15. Themeter of claim 1 in which said main meter unit monitors at least onecurrent common to said multiple branch circuits, samples the monitoredcurrent common to said multiple branch circuits in the main meter unit,determines the magnitudes and angles of spectral components of thesampled current common to said multiple branch circuits, and stores datarepresenting said magnitudes and angles of the current spectralcomponents common to said multiple branch circuits.
 16. A computerprogram product, comprising one or more non-transitory tangible mediahaving a computer readable program logic embodied therein, the computerreadable program logic configured to be executed to implement a methodof monitoring the electrical power in multiple branch circuits of an ACelectrical power distribution system, the method comprising monitoringat least one voltage common to said multiple branch circuits using amain meter unit; monitoring currents of the multiple branch circuits,using multiple current cards that receive a plurality of current inputsfrom current transducers in the multiple branch circuits; sampling themonitored voltage in the main meter unit and the monitored currents inthe current cards multiple times in each cycle of the AC power signal;determining the magnitudes and angles of spectral components of thesampled current in the current cards; sending data representing saidmagnitudes and angles of at least selected spectral components from thecurrent cards to the main meter unit; and storing the voltage samplesand the data representing the magnitudes and angles of at least theselected spectral components in the main meter unit.
 17. The computerprogram product of claim 16 in which said method includes determiningthe magnitudes and angles of spectral components of the sampled voltagein the main meter unit; and storing data representing said magnitudesand angles of the voltage spectral components in the main meter unit.18. The computer program product of claim 17 in which said methodincludes storing in the main meter unit data characterizing systemvoltage type, current transducers, and branch circuit configurations ofthe power distribution system; and calculating in the main meter unitthe power consumed in each branch circuit using said storedcharacterizing data along with the stored data representing saidmagnitudes and angles of the voltage and current spectral components.19. The computer program product of claim 16 in which said methodincludes said spectral component magnitudes and angles are determined byperforming a Fast Fourier Transform of the sampled current in thecurrent cards.
 20. The computer program product of claim 16 in whichsaid method includes comparing the spectral component magnitudes to apredetermined value related to the fundamental frequency; anddetermining which spectral component magnitudes are greater than saidpredetermined value.
 21. The computer program product of claim 20 inwhich said method includes only data representing the magnitudes andangles of the current spectral components with magnitudes that are inexcess of the predetermined value are sent to the main meter unit. 22.The computer program product of claim 16 in which said method includesmonitoring currents from multiple transducers in the same branchcircuit.
 23. The computer program product of claim 16 in which saidmethod includes generating in said main meter unit a control signal thatrepresents the times at which the monitored voltage and currents are tobe sampled, transmitting said control signal to said current cards, andsampling said monitored voltage and currents is effected in response tosaid control signal to produce time coincident samples.
 24. The computerprogram product of claim 16 in which said method includes a singlecurrent card samples currents from multiple branch circuits.
 25. Thecomputer program product of claim 24 in which said method includesmultiple branch circuits whose currents are sampled by said singlecurrent card are of different circuit configurations.
 26. The computerprogram product of claim 16 in which said method includes a commonbackplane couples the main metering unit and the multiple current cards,and a single chassis contains the main metering unit, the multiplecurrent cards, and the common backplane.
 27. The computer programproduct of claim 26 in which said method includes data that is sent viathe common backplane from the current cards to the main meter unit. 28.The computer program product of claim 26 in which said method includesgenerating in said meter unit a control signal that represents the timesat which the monitored voltage and currents are to be sampled; andtransmitting said control signal to the multiple current cards via thecommon backplane.
 29. The computer program product of claim 16 in whichsaid method includes the sampling of said monitored voltage and currentsproduces time-coincident samples.
 30. The computer program product ofclaim 16 in which said method includes monitoring at least one currentcommon to said multiple branch circuits using a main meter unit;sampling the monitored current common to said multiple branch circuitsin the main meter unit; determining the magnitudes and angles ofspectral components of the sampled current common to said multiplebranch circuits in the main meter unit; and storing data representingsaid magnitudes and angles of the current spectral components common tosaid multiple branch circuits in the main meter unit.